IBM's Earnings Blues Are a Big Opportunity

This simple options strategy pays investors to wait while Big Blue works through a sales slump.

When the stock market gives you lemons, make lemonade in the options market.

This approach can help offset an earnings disaster like the horrible quarter reported by IBM. Big Blue late Tuesday reported another quarter of disappointing results and the stock promptly shed 5% after hours. Wednesday, the stock is still trading lower, creating opportunities for long-term investors, and aggressive traders, to try to take profitable...